South Florida Forecast
March 14, 2024
By Capt. Alan Sherman
Capt. Alan Sherman covers Deerfield Beach to Key Largo & Flamingo to Cape Sable, including Pompano Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Homestead.
March 15-17 Deerfield Beach to Key Largo & Flamingo to Cape Sable
NOAA Weather is forecasting winds to be out of the south to southeast at 5 to 10 knots through Saturday night. and on Sunday 10 to 15 knots out of the south.
Pompano Beach, Port Everglades, Haulover, Government Cut to Ocean Reef
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The spring migration is underway in South Florida. Schools of mullets, pilchards, glass minnows and threadfin herrings are sliding by our coast as they head north for the summer. On their tails are bluefish, snook, tarpons, Spanish mackerel, kingfish, bonitos, big jack crevalles, blackfin tuna, sailfish and dolphin fish. Kingfish in the 3- to 20-pound range are being caught on live baitfish, fresh ballyhoo and Spanish sardines. Vertical jigs are getting strikes too. Mixed in with the kings have been bonitos. Look for the kings to be feeding inside of 200 feet of water around artificial reefs and the sewer outfalls. Most of the week there has been a very distinct blue water edge that has moved inshore of 200 feet of water at times. In the blue water, dolphin fish in the 2- to 10-pound range have been scattered along the coast. These mahi mahi just show up as singles, doubles and small groups. They grab a few baits and then move on. Sailfish and blackfin tunas have been feeding in the same waters as the mahi mahi. On the bottom over wrecks and ledges, a few mutton and yellowtail snappers were being caught. A lot of small almoco jacks and amberjacks are on the wrecks and eating live baits and vertical jigs. Big bluefish continue to surprise offshore fishermen. These fish are traveling through our area quickly and just show up unexpectedly. The nighttime bottom fishing is producing decent numbers of snappers, bluefish, toros, grunts and kingfish. The dredge holes have been pretty good recently. Low tide at Government Cut Friday night will be at 8:31.
North Biscayne Bay
Baitfish schools are moving through the bay as we speak. Feeding on the baitfish has been big schools jack crevalles, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Sea trout continue to be caught over the shallow grass flats in the bay. Tarpon have been feeding in areas where mullet schools are present. Nighttime snook and tarpon action is good in the ocean inlets, along lighted bridges and under lighted dock lights. Low tide at Indian Creek Saturday morning is at 9:47.
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South Bay
Fishermen will have a good incoming tide in the morning for targeting bonefish on both sides of the South Bay. Look for the bones to be tailing along the shallowest parts of the Oceanside flats and western shoreline flats of South Bay as the tide starts to come in. Once the tide rises look for the bonefish pushing wakes and creating small pancake-sized muds. Large live shrimp and skimmer jigs if presented properly, rarely get refused. The Finger Channels were slow this past week but there were some Spanish mackerel and bluefish to chum to the boat. Anchor your boat in 10 feet of water and drop a block of chum in the water. Give the chum at least 15 minutes to work before changing locations. I like to fish live shrimp or pilchards under a Cajun Thunder float for these fish and it was very productive this past week. Low tide at Soldier Key on Saturday will be at 9:17 in the morning.
Flamingo
Snook, redfish and tarpon have been biting in the channels and along the edges of the flats in Florida Bay. The fish are eating live shrimp, pilchards, pinfish, mullets and a wide variety of artificial baits. The tarpon fishing south of Sandy Key has turned on. Along the mangrove shorelines from East Cape north to Shark River, snook, redfish, sea trout and tarpon are being caught. The best action is happening on the early stages of the incoming tides. Tarpon are feeding in the mouths of the creeks, rivers and canals on the outgoing tide. Live ladyfish and mullets have been getting the strikes. Sharks are taking some of the baits intended for the tarpon. The inside waters are producing redfish, snook and sea trout. Look for these fish to be feeding along the island points and shorelines. Jig heads tipped with a soft plastic have been working on these fish. High tide at Flamingo in Florida Bay on Saturday will be at 9:39 AM and at the mouth of Shark River low tide is at 8:02 AM.
Capt. Alan Sherman shermana@bellsouth.net (786)436-2064 www.getemsportfishing.com